Corvette ZR1 outshines Schwarzenegger in 'Last Stand'

Jan. 18, 2013
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A man steps out of the driver's cockpit of a Chevy Corvette Supercharged ZR1 on display at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, on November 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Five environmentally friendly cars are vying for the crown of Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show this week, each using different fuel or fuel combinations, demonstrating the growing range of options available for motorists wanting to cut their carbon footprint, the shortlist includes all-electric, gas-electric hybrid and natural gas-powered models. The finalists for the accolade, the winner of which is to be announced on November 17, are: the Honda Civic Natural Gas, the Volkswagen Passat TDI, the Mitsubishi i, the Toyota Prius V and the Ford Focus Electric. AFP PHOTO / Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) / Frederic J. Brown, Getty Images

by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

The real star of the film The Last Stand might not be Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It might just be the souped up Corvette ZR1 which serves as the escape vehicle for a drug cartel head fleeing for Mexico. Its gets a far sleeker portrayal than Schwarzenegger, who ends up very dusty very quickly in the film.

After all, the Corvette seems to be faster than a helicopter when it comes to getting over the line in The Last Stand. Forget that you have to build a bridge and mow over police road blocks, a bothersome SUV and other impediments to get there. It's pedal-to-the-metal time.

"It rips that car," says producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who admitted to taking a few test drives (for professional reasons only, of course).

While the car remains pretty unscratched onscreen until Schwarzenegger gets through with it, di Bonaventura admits in real life there were plenty of bumps. The film crew started with seven cars and handed Chevrolet back maybe two in decent shape when the dust settled.

"We didn't destroy all the cars," says di Bonaventura. "But they were banged up pretty well."

This is not a surprise for di Bonaventura, who has worked with Chevy on the blockbuster, car-busting Transformer films. Great platform for the cars, but tough work to get there.

"I've worked with other car companies and they give you two cars and you have to treat them like babies. And you cannot do that crazy stunt when the car takes out an SUV, like we did here. That stunt alone took out a car."

And the company understands, the man is going to need a lot of cars.

"They do understand the notion of making it look good onsceen," says di Bonaventura. "But the end result is the cars look really great."